The parliamentary commission will draw public attention to the new facts and will draft recommendations for improving the norms of international law.
During its first meeting, the parliamentary commission established to investigate the circumstances related to the creation of biological laboratories by US specialists in Ukraine outlined the main spheres of its operation and formed working groups. The event was held by the Commission’s co-chairs, Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev and Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Irina Yarovaya.
Konstantin Kosachev pointed out that it was the third such investigation in the history of Russian parliament. The other two were conducted in connection with the Beslan tragedy and the disaster at the Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydropower Plant.
The Senator pointed out that the biolaboratories, which had been established at the US initiative near the Russian border in Ukraine, were potentially hazardous. “Hundreds of US biological laboratories set up on the territory of foreign states are working on projects under direct orders from the Pentagon under the cover of agreements between healthcare organisations,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council mentioned the decisions of the international community on nuclear and chemical arms control, first of all, the 1972 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction. “However, in the period since 2001 the United States has been sabotaging all efforts, including by Russia, to create an inspection system to ensure the compliance with the Convention, including by the United States,” Konstantin Kosachev added.
He expressed hope that the parliamentary commission would draft recommendations on improving the norms of international law in the sphere of biological weapons.
The Senator pointed out that the commission should also draw the attention of the international community to the new facts and called for giving a public legal assessment to them.
Konstantin Kosachev believed that after analysing the available facts and documents the commission should prepare and publish a report and subsequently inform the international community about its conclusions, including by promoting a relevant agenda at international and interparliamentary organisations. The report should provide grounds for initiating a special investigation by the UN Security Council and subsequently for taking collective measures to preclude such activities.
The next meeting of the commission will be held at the Federation Council on 4 April 2022.